8.4

Overview

Probably, Volkswagen Golf is one of the most popular car lineups in the world. 2017 Volkswagen Golf GTI Hatchback is yet another addition to the diverse lineup. Front smooth and responsive handling to above average interiors, there are several great things about the Volkswagen Golf Hatchback. The 2017 iteration of Golf Hatchback brushes up all the appreciable feats of the popular car lineup.

2017 Volkswagen Golf GTI Hatchback flaunts a 2.0L Inline 4-cylinder 16V engine. The robust engine produces 210 hp of power along with generating 258 lb.-ft. of torque. For switching gears, the ride relies on a smooth 6-speed manual transmission mode. Nonetheless, the option of upgrading to the automatic transmission is also available.

Autobahn 4dr Hatchback (2.0L 4cyl Turbo 6AM)

Expert Review

carhp editorOctober 4, 2018

8.4

Overall Rating

7.3/10Features

8.1/10Engine

8.9/10Fuel Economy

8.7/10Interior

8.3/10Exterior

9.1/10Safety

Probably, Volkswagen Golf is one of the most popular car lineups in the world. 2017 Volkswagen Golf GTI Hatchback is yet another addition to the diverse lineup. Front smooth and responsive handling to above average interiors, there are several great things about the Volkswagen Golf Hatchback. The 2017 iteration of Golf Hatchback brushes up all the appreciable feats of the popular car lineup.

2017 Volkswagen Golf GTI Hatchback flaunts a 2.0L Inline 4-cylinder 16V engine. The robust engine produces 210 hp of power along with generating 258 lb.-ft. of torque. For switching gears, the ride relies on a smooth 6-speed manual transmission mode. Nonetheless, the option of upgrading to the automatic transmission is also available.

Features

7.3/10

There are a total of 4 trims available for the 2017 Volkswagen Golf GTI. These are S 3dr/5dr, Sport, SE, and Autobahn. Moreover, each trim is available in 2 distinct variants, one with manual transmission and the other with automatic transmission. The variant with automatic transmission is priced $1.1k more than that of the variant with a manual transmission.

S 3dr/5dr, SE, and Autobahn come with LED foglights as standard. Leave for the S 3dr/5dr trim, each trim features a Bi-Xenon high-intensity headlights with LED DRL and AFS. Rain-sensing windshield wipers are available as a standard feature in SE and Autobahn trims. All trims flaunt a VW Car-Net App-Connect.

S 3dr/5dr, Sport, and SE trims feature a climatic manual single-zone climate control with pollen filter. This is not available in the Autobahn trim. Instead, it flaunts a Climatronic dual-zone automatic climate control with pollen filter as well as rear passenger ventilation. Discover Media touchscreen navigation system with proximity sensor is another exclusive standard feature of Autobahn trim.

Engine

8.1/10

" The Golf is all about fuel efficiency and competitive pricing, and the GTI ups the ante with a punchy engine, a quick-shifting dual-clutch automatic transmission and stylish upholstery "-Edmunds.com

2017 Volkswagen Golf GTI features a 2.0L inline 4-cylinder engine complemented by a 6-speed manual transmission mode. The robust 2.0L engine generates 210 hp of power and 258 lb.-ft. of torque. Its class rivals are better at engine power. Honda Civic Type R offers the most power and torque of 306 hp and 295 lb.-ft., respectively.

For accelerating to 60 MPH from nothing, 2017 Volkswagen Golf GTI Hatchback requires 5.9 seconds. This makes the ride faster than that of the Ford Focus ST and Mini Hardtop 2 Door JCW. However, Honda Civic Type R hits the 60 MPH mark in just 4.9 seconds. 2017 Golf GTI Hatchback, however, requires the most time of 14.6 seconds for covering a quarter-mile.

Models

Volkswagen Golf GTI

Honda Civic Type R

Ford Focus ST

Mini Hardtop 2 Door JCW

0-60 MPH

5.9 sec

4.9 sec

6.1 sec

6.4 sec

Quarter mile

14.6 sec

13.5

14.5 sec

14.2 sec

Engine

2.0L

2.0L

2.0L

2.0L

Emission

(Tons/yr of CO2 Emissions @ 15K mi/year)

6.3

7.1

7.1

6.8

Ford Focus ST and Mini Hardtop 2 Door JCW covers a quarter-mile in 14.5 and 14.2 seconds, respectively. Honda Civic Type R, once again, outshines the competition by covering a quarter-mile in just 13.5 seconds. Both Ford Focus ST and Honda Civic Type R has a CO2 emission value of 7.1, most in the competition. The same for Hardtop 2 Door JCW is 6.8. Nonetheless, Volkswagen Golf GTI has the least-in-league CO2 emission value of 6.3.

Ride and Handling

Golf GTI lineup is known to bring precise handling and sharp steering to the table. The same is true for the 2017 incarnation. Additionally, the ride has a brusque acceleration complemented by a powerful braking power. As such, the ride is capable to offer a confident ride even on curvaceous surfaces with a lot of twists and turns.

Sport and upper trims flaunt a limited-slip differential that helps in driving the ride more efficiently on challenging roads. Both, the slick-shifting manual and the optional dual-clutch automatic, transmission options are great. The latter is, however, better. When equipped with summer tires, Golf GTI Hatchback might lead to harsh driving experience on imperfect pavement. So, it\u2019s better to equip the ride with the standard all-season tires.

Braking

The 2017 avatar of the Volkswagen Golf GTI Hatchback flaunts a powerful braking system. When decelerated continuously from 60 MPH, the ride comes to a full halt in mere 100 feet. That\u2019s a remarkable feat for an inexpensive compact car.

Model

Volkswagen Golf GTI

Honda Civic Type R

Ford Focus ST

Mini Hardtop 2 Door JCW

Brake Front (in.)

12.3

13.8

12.6

11.6

Brake Rear (in.)

10.7

12.0

10.7

10.2

Curb Weight (lbs.)

3031

3117

3223

2845

60-0 MPH (ft.)

100

99

108

110

Comparatively, Ford Focus ST and Mini Hardtop 2 Door JCW requires 108 and 110 feet, respectively, for stopping. Honda Civic Type R comes to a halt at 99 feet. That\u2019s probably because it has much bigger brakes than that of the Volkswagen Golf GTI.

Fuel Economy

8.9/10

The thing is that Volkswagen GTI has always been a runner. 2017 Volkswagen Golf GTI flushes its competitors with an impressive combined fuel economy of 28 mpg. The ride delivers 24 mpg in cities and 34 mpg on highways.

Model

Volkswagen Golf GTI

Honda Civic Type R

Ford Focus ST

Mini Hardtop 2 Door JCW

MPG (city)

24

22

22

23

MPG (highway)

34

28

30

32

MPG (combined)

28

25

25

26

In terms of fuel economy, the closest competitor to the Golf GTI is the Mini Hardtop 2 Door JCW. The ride flaunts a combined fuel economy of 26 mpg. Ford Focus ST and Honda Civic Type R ties at the same spot with a mileage of 25 miles per gallon of gas.

Interior

8.7/10

"The 2017 Volkswagen Golf GTI's interior is the standard-bearer for the sporty compact car class. Materials are well-grained and soft to the touch, and the overall design is distinctly European, comfortable and sporty" -Edmunds.com

Like its previous facelifts, 2017 Volkswagen Golf GTI Hatchback accommodates 5 persons at max. Headroom and legroom available in the front are 38.5 and 41.2 inches, respectively. Though appreciable, its class rivals offer better front seat space. While Mini Hardtop 2 Door JCW offers the most headroom of 40.3 inches, it is Honda Civic Type R that leads the pack with 42.3 inches of legroom.

Model

Volkswagen Golf GTI

Honda Civic Type R

Ford Focus ST

Mini Hardtop 2 Door JCW

Passenger capacity

5

4

5

4

Front (Head/Shoulder/Leg) (In.)

38.5/55.9/41.2

39.3/56.9/42.3

39.1/55.6/41.9

40.3/50.6/41.4

Second

(Head/Shoulder/Leg) (In.)

38.1/53.9/35.9

37.4/55.0/35.9

37.9/52.6/33.4

36.9/47.8/30.8

Though Volkswagen Golf GTI has smaller, compared to its rivals, front seats, it outshines the competition with airy rear seats. The ride flaunts pack-leading 38.1 and 35.9 inches of headroom and legroom, respectively in the back.

Infotainment System

Each trim of the 2017 Volkswagen Golf GTI Hatchback boasts a 6.5-inch infotainment touchscreen. The screen has built-in capacitive-touch sensors, allowing for a smooth experience. In addition to swiping, pinch/zooming gesture control is also available.

Though all trims support Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, Autobahn trim comes with navigational capabilities. Nonetheless, the infotainment system provides support for connecting two Bluetooth devices simultaneously.

Interior Features

Varying from the use of high-quality materials to an eloquent design, everything is great about the interior of the Golf GTI Hatchback. The insides of 2017 GTI Hatchback offers:

Bold red stitching

Supportive seats

Two upholstery options, classic plaid cloth and leather

Airy back seat

Perfectly positioned buttons and switches

Cargo Capacity

2017 Volkswagen Golf GTI Hatchback offers a decent 22.8 cubic feet of cargo volume to seat 2. This is much better than that of 8.7 cubic feet offered by the Mini Hardtop 2 Door JCW. However, Ford Focus ST and Honda Civic Type R offer better of the same. The same storage space for Ford Focus ST and Honda Civic Type R is 23.8 and 25.7 cubic feet, respectively.

Exterior

8.3/10

"Overall though, the 2017 Volkswagen Golf GTI ticks all the right boxes for those who prize fun and practicality" -Edmunds.com

Dimension and Weight

2017 Volkswagen Golf GTI Hatchback boasts concise dimensions. The ride has 168, 70.8, and 56.8 inches of length, width, and height, respectively. Such dimensions make the ride much compact than the Ford Focus ST as well as the Honda Civic Type R.

Model

Volkswagen Golf GTI

Honda Civic Type R

Ford Focus ST

Mini Hardtop 2 Door JCW

Curb weight (lbs.)

3031

3117

3223

2845

Length(in)

168.0

179.4

171.7

151.9

Width(in)

70.8

73.9

71.7

68.0

Height(in)

56.8

56.5

58.4

55.7

Ground clearance (in)

5.0

5.1

5.7

5.6

Wheelbase (in)

103.6

106.3

104.3

98.2

Track width (in) F/R

60.6/59.6

63/62.7

61.2/60.4

58.5/58.5

Volkswagen Golf GTI Hatchback supports a curb weight of 3031 lbs. Again, less than that of the Focus ST and the Honda Civic Type R. Ground clearance flaunted by the ride is 5 inches, least amongst the competition. Moreover, the ride has a wheelbase of 103.6 inches.

Crisp character lines, starting at the base of the hood

Narrow horizontal grille

Sharp headlight clusters

Distinctive C-pillar

Wide track, muscular personality

Safety

9.1/10

The 2017 iteration of the Volkswagen Golf GTI Hatchback has an impressive IIHS and NHTSA scorecard. The ride has an \u201cAdvanced\u201d front crash prevention in addition to having "Good" roof strength and head restraints. Overall NHTSA rating for the Golf GTI Hatchback is "5-star"

There are a number of security and reliability features available with the Golf GTI Hatchback. For instance, the ride flaunts ESC and ABS in addition to ASR and EDL. Moreover, there is a 3-point safety belt available for various seating positions. A tire pressure monitoring system and an automatic post-collision braking system are also available as standard features.

Competition

Volkswagen Golf GTI vs. Ford Focus ST

With a starting price-tag of $24,775, Ford Focus ST is one of the cheapest rides in the compact cars segment. The ride flaunts a 2.0L GTDI engine, capable of producing 252 hp of power and 270 lb.-ft. of torque. For gear-shifting, the ride makes use of a 6-speed manual transmission mode.

Ford Focus ST shoots to 60 MPH in 6.1 seconds and requires 14.5 seconds for covering a quarter-mile. The ride is the bulkiest ride amongst its class rivals with a total curb weight of 3223 lbs. It offers a combined fuel economy of 25 mpg, lowest in the segment. Focus ST offers an impressive ground clearance of 5.7 inches and ample space for seating 5 persons.

Volkswagen Golf GTI vs. Honda Civic Type R

Another major competitor to the 2017 Volkswagen Golf GTI Hatchback is the Honda Civic Type R. The compact ride boasts a 2.0L turbocharged 4-cylinder engine along with a 6-speed manual transmission mode. The powerful engine produces impressive 306 hp of power and 295 lb.-ft. of torque. Both are maximum amongst the competition.Pricing options for the Honda Civic Type R start from $33,900, making it the priciest ride in the segment. Nonetheless, the compact coupe has a power-packed performance. It is capable of accelerating to 60 MPH in just 4.9 seconds. Moreover, it comes to halt at a distance of 99 feet when decelerated furiously from 60 MPH. Unlike the Golf GTI Hatchback, it can accommodate only 4 persons.

Volkswagen Golf GTI vs. Mini Hardtop 2 Door JCW

Under its metallic hide, Mini Hardtop 2 Door JCW flaunts a 2.0L 4-cylinder TwinPower Turbo engine. The engine produces 228 hp of power along with 236 lb.-ft. of torque. The ride makes use of a 6-speed manual transmission mode for gear-shifting. The ride comes with an opening bid of $30,900.

Being the slowest car among the class, Hardtop 2 Door JCW shoots to 60 MPH in 6.4 seconds. Nonetheless, it is able to cover a quarter-mile in 14.2 seconds, quicker than the Golf GTI and Focus ST. Mini Hardtop 2 Door JCW is the lightest coupe among its class rivals with a total curb weight of 2845 lbs. The ride flaunts roomy front seats but cramped rear seats.

Final Verdict

Volkswagen Golf GTI Hatchback has always been, and hopefully, will always be, one of the leading compact cars. 2017 Volkswagen Golf GTI Hatchback has everything, ranging from spacious seating to impressive fuel economy, which makes it an excellent choice for an everyday drive.